Method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for straightening an elongated article about all of the lateral axes thereof, wherein the article is continuously and progressively bent about such axes by progressively decreasing amounts.

PATENTEDFEBZS m2 3,645,119

SHEET 1 DE 5 INVENTORS PMERT A. BERG ROBERT W. DECKER DONALD R4 HART DAVID J WEBER BY I 3;M,M,fi

mormns PATENTEDFEBZS I972 3.645.119

sum 2 0r 5 lNVENTORS ROBERT A BERG ROBERT W. DECKER DRNALD ART 0 W0 J. ER

ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGI-ITENING ELONGATED ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to methods and apparatus for straightening elongated articles, and specifically, to a method and apparatus for straightening an elongated article about all of the lateral axes thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art The problem of straightening elongated articles, such as shafts, tools, tool blanks, and the like, has long plagued the manufacturers of such articles. Although some attempts have been made to provide apparatus for solving this problem, as

evidenced, for example, by Safely U.S. Pat. No. 60,260, Thompson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 191,085 and Clark U.S. Pat. No. 1,504,023, such attempts have been largely unsuccessful. Presently, most elongated articles which require straightening are straightened by hand. Moreover, as the complexity of machines and tools has increased, with resultant increases in the necessary geometrical tolerances for the components of such machines and tools, the need for a satisfactory straightening method and apparatus has become more pronounced.

The prior art straightening apparatus generally comprise anvil type structures in which the articles to be straightened are rolled or impacted between a pair of relatively heavy hammer members. The aforementioned Safely, Thompson and Clark patents disclose apparatus of this type. Such apparatus have not proved satisfactory because the hammer members frequently deform the surface of an article being straightened, for example, by flat spotting the surface of a shaft. Also, such apparatus are limited to straightening cylindrical articles, such as cylindrical shafts, while many articles which require straightening have polygonal-shaped transverse cross sections. Also, some articles which require straightening do not have uniform transverse cross-sectional dimensions along the length thereof, such as longitudinally tapered files.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the invention offer a solution to the foregoing problems and fulfill the long standing need for a satisfactory method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles.

Basically described, the apparatus of the invention comprises; a frame; a plurality of radially aligned pairs of pulleys journaled on the frame; a plurality of flexible belts each being trained about one of said pairs of pulleys, the outer surfaces of the belts along one run thereof defining a plane, the belts being substantially parallel along said one run and being adapted to transport an elongated article to be straightened therealong; means associated with the frame for rotatably driving the pulleys to thereby drive the belts; and a pressure bar connected to the frame and extending substantially parallel to the belts along said one run, the bar having an edge thereof disposed adjacent said plane for confining the article between the bar and the belts while the article is transported along said one run, one portion of the edge being spaced from said plane a distance less than the transverse cross-sectional thickness of the article and another portion of the edge being spaced from said plane a distance greater than said thickness so that when the article is transported along said one run from said one to said other portion of the edge, the article is rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof and is continuously and progressively bent about the lateral axes thereof by progressively decreasing amounts, to thereby straighten the article about said lateral axes.

The edge of the pressure bar which contacts an article to be straightened preferably is covered with a resilient material so that as the article is transported along the above-mentioned run of the belts, the article is confined between the flexible belts and the resilient material-covered edge of the pressure bar. Thus, the surface of the article is not deformed during passage of the article between the belts and pressure bar.

The method of the invention basically comprises continuously and progressively bending an elongated article to be straightened about all of the lateral axes thereof by progressively decreasing amounts.

The method and apparatus may be used for straightening articles having polygonal-shaped transverse cross sections, as well as articles having circular-shaped transverse cross sections. Moreover, the method and apparatus may be used for straightening longitudinally tapered articles, as well as articles having uniform transverse cross-sectional dimensions.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles about all of the lateral axes thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus as described in the preceding object wherein an article to be straightened is continuously and progressively bent about all of the lateral axes thereof by progressively decreasing amounts.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a method as described in the preceding object in which the article is continuously and progressively bent about all of the lateral axes thereof by rotating the article about the longitudinal axis thereof and simultaneously applying a progressively decreasing bending force thereto from a predetermined direction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for straightening elongated articles about all of the lateral axes thereof in which an article to be straightened is passed between a plurality of movable flexible belts and a pressure bar having a portion of an edge thereof separated from the plane defined by the outer surfaces of the belts along one run thereof a distance less than the transverse cross-sectional thickness of the article.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof given in connection with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in fIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical perspective view showing the manner in which elongated articles are straightened by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4 and in accordance with the method of the invention;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on lines 66, 77, 88 and 99 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an end view of a portion of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4, as designated by reference numeral 10. Apparatus 10 includes a structural supporting frame 12 comprising a plurality of interconnected channel members 14 which define a substantially horizontally extending platform. Frame 12 also includes a pair of channel members 16 and 18 which are affixed to the top of the platform defined by members 14 adjacent the edges of such platform. The frame further includes a pair of channel members 20 and 22 which are affixed to the tops of members 16 and 18, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, members 20 and 22 are substantially longer than members 16 and 18. Additionally, frame 12 includes a plurality of channel members 24 which are disposed between and affixed to members 20 and 22.

A plurality of pairs of radially aligned pulleys are journaled on frame 12. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 includes llllil'il it.

120, are a pair of guide channels 122 through which the chains pass and which insure that the chains accurately register with the'notches. As each aligned pair of lugs 106 passes through notches 120, the lugs engage an article 100 to be straightened and carry the article upwardly, around sprockets 108 and place the article on belts 48 and 46 adjacent end 98. The dimensions of lugs 106 are selectedso that only one article at a time may be engaged thereby.

If desired, an article alignment flange 128 (shown only in FIG. 1) may be positioned above the path of travel of articles 1011 about sprockets 108 to insure that the articles will be placed on belts 46 and 48 in the proper attitude for transport along the article transport plane, i.e., the longitudinal axis of each article oriented substantially perpendicular to the belts and edge 76. Flange 128 is affixed to a leg'130 which is adjustably connected to bar 74 by bolts 132'and a pair of parallel plates 134 (only one of which is shown in the drawings). Also, if desired, a plate 136 maybe affixed to frame 12 below tray 118 to catch any articles 100 between such tray and the frame which may be spilled from the tray.

The method of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. Basically, the method comprises continuously and progressively bending an elongated article to be straightened about the lateral axes thereof by progressively decreasing amounts. The bending is accomplished by rotating the article about its longitudinal axis and simultaneously applying a progressively decreasing bending force thereto from a predetermined direction. The article is rotated by applying torque to the end portions thereof, while the bending force is applied to the medial portion thereof.

It will be appreciated that while the embodiments of the apparatus of the invention described herein are particularly adapted for performing the method of the invention, such method could be accomplished by other types of apparatus. For example, an article to be straightened could be mounted between a pair of opposed turning centers, and the bending force applied thereto by a movable arm which contacts the medial portion of the article as it is rotated by such centers.

The articles which may be straightened utilizing the apparatus and method of the invention are varied. Generally, such articles include any elongated article which must be straightened about all of its lateral axes. The only limitation on the use of the method and apparatus is that the articles must be sufficiently malleable to bend about their lateral axes in response to the application of a bending force thereto. Examples of such articles are elongated tools and tool blanks, such as files and file blanks, and machine components, such as shafts and the like.

Of particular significance is the fact that the method and apparatus may be used for straightening elongated articles having polygonal-shaped transverse cross sections, as well as articles having a circular-shaped transverse cross section. Examples of the former articles are files and file blanks having triangularor quadrilateral-shaped transverse cross sections. This result is made possible by the use of flexible belts for transporting the articles. The belts flex inwardly and outwardly with respect to the pressure bar to maintain an article being straightened in contact with the adjacent edge of the pressure bar.

The method and apparatus of the invention also may be used for straightening longitudinally tapered articles, such as tapered shafts, files and file blanks. For straightening articles having a significant amount of taper, it may be desirable to drive the flexible belts of the apparatus at different velocities so that the articles will be maintained in the proper orientation with respect to the belts and pressure 'bar. A second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, shown in FIGS. and 11 and designated generally by reference numeral 140, includes a drive means for the belts for accomplishing this result. Apparatus 140 includes a frame 142 comprising a plurality of interconnected channel members 144. The general construction of frame 142 is similar to frame 12 described above. Apparatus 140 further includes two pairs of radially klt aligned pulley, only one pulley of each pair being shown in the drawings, as designated by reference numerals 146 and 148, respectively. Trained about pulley 146 and the associated aligned pulley is a flexible belt 150. Similarly, trained about pulley 148 and the associated aligned pulley is a flexible belt 152.

r The means for driving belts-150 and 152 includes a first electric motor 154 which is drivingly connected to a first speed reducer 156. A sprocket 158 is secured to the output shaft of reducer 156 and is drivingly connected to a sprocket 160 by a chain 162. Sprocket 160 is mounted on a shaft 164 and is rotatably fixed to the shaft by a key 166 formed on the shaft. Shaft 164 is journaled in bearing supports 168 and 170 affixed to members 144. Pulley 148 also is mounted on shaft 164 and is rotatably fixed thereto by key 166. Sprocket 160 and pulley 148 are also axially fixed to shaft 164 by appropriate set screws (not shown). Thus, upon the energization of motor 154, belt 152 is driven at a first linear velocity.

Also secured to shaft 164 by key 166 and an appropriate set screw, is a sprocket 172, A chain 174 drivingly connects sprocket 172 to another sprocket which is secured to the shaft (not shown) on which are rotatably mounted the pulleys associated with pulleys 146 and 148. Sprocket 172 and chain 174 comprise a portion of the drive means for a placement means for automatically sequentially placing articles to be straightened on belts 150 and 152.

Pulley 146 is rotatably mounted on shaft 164. Affixed to pulley 146 and also rotatably mounted on shaft 164 is a sprocket 176. Sprocket 176 is drivably connected to a sprocket 180 by a chain 178. Sprocket 180 is secured to the output shaft ofa second speed reducer 182. A second electric motor 186 is drivingly connected to reducer 182 by a variable speed transmission 184. Thus, uponthe energization of motor 186, belt 150 may be driven at any desired linear velocity within the limitations of transmission 184.

The driving means for belts 150 and 152 thus permit the belts to be driven at different linear velocities to thereby facilitate transporting longitudinally tapered articles along the article transport plane defined by the outer surfaces of the belts along the upper run thereof. It will be appreciated that a pressure bar (not shown) similar to pressure bar 74 is mounted above the article transport plane. By adjusting the linear velocity of belt 150 with respect to the linear velocity of belt 152, a tapered article may be maintained in the proper orientation as it passes between the belts and associated pressure bar. For example, if the end portion of such an article having the lesser transverse cross-sectional dimensions were placed on belt 150 and the end portion of the article having the greater transverse cross-sectional dimensions were placed on belt 152, belt 150 should be driven at a greater linear velocity than belt 152 to insure that the longitudinal axis of the article is maintained substantially perpendicular to the belts and associated pressure bar.

For articles having a relatively long longitudinal dimension it may be desirable to employ three or more belts to insure that the articles are adequately supported for transport along the article transport plane. For example, it has been found that for straightening round tapered files having a longitudinal dimension of 12 inches or greater the use of three belts is desirable. However, it should be appreciated that the desirability of using three or more belts is dependent upon several factors, including the materials from which the articles are made and the configurations thereof. Thus, this example merely represents one instance in which it has been found desirable to employ three belts instead of two.

While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the method and apparatus of the invention, it is understood that various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

. We claim:

1. An apparatus for straightening an elongated article about all of the lateral axes thereof, said apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of radially aligned pairs of pulleys journaled on said frame;

a plurality of flexible belts each being trained about one of said pairs of pulleys, the outer surfaces of said belts along one run thereof defining a plane, said belts being substantially parallel along said one run and being adapted to transport said article therealong;

means associated with said frame for rotatable driving said pulleys to thereby drive said belts; and

a pressure bar connected to said frame and extending substantially parallel to said belts along said one run, said bar having an edge thereof disposed adjacent said plane for confining said article between the bar and belts while the article is transported along said one run, one portion of said edge being spaced from said plane a distance less than the transverse cross-sectional thickness of said article and another portion of said edge being spaced from said plane a distance greater than said thickness so that when the article is transported along said one run from said one to said other portion of said edge, the article is rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof and is continuously and progressively bent about the lateral axes thereof by progressively decreasing amounts, to thereby straighten the article about said lateral axes.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising two of said flexible belts.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said belts are made from a material from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyisocyanate.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said driving means are operative to drive said belts at different linear velocities along said one run for transporting a longitudinally tapered article to be straightened.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for automatically sequentially placing a plurality of said articles on said belts adjacent said one portion of said edge.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bar is connected to said frame by adjustable means so that the separation of said edge from said plane may be adjusted.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plane is substantially horizontal.

[ 5] Feb. 29, 1972 [54] COILING APPARATUS [72] Arthur L. Lind; John Gross, both of Salem, Ohio Gull & Western Industrial Products Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

221 Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 12,597

inventors:

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl ..72/134, 72/173, 242/78.1 [51] lnt.Cl ........B2lc 47/00, 821d 5/14 [58] Field oiSearch ..72/134, 169, 170,171,173, 72/148; 242/78.l, 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,470 11/1962 'OBrien ..72/148 1,985,501 12/1934 Hudson.... .....72/l73 1,935,092 10/1933 lverson ..72/173 94; I02 M f, 100

96 -w I l 11' Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-R. M. Rogers Attorney-Meyer, Tilberry and Body [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus particularly suited for coiling heavy metal plate and comprising a bending roll assembly including three cooperating bending rolls positioned along the path of movement of the plate. The bending rolls are arranged to coil the plate in a downward direction as it passes therethrough. A coil receiving and supporting cage assembly is positioned beneath the bending rolls. The cage assembly includes a plurality of roll members extending parallel to the axis of the formed coil and mounted for outward movement as the diameter of the coil increases during the coiling operation. The lowest of the roll members are mounted so they can be moved to permit the complete coil to be lowered to a subjacent coil-conveying or carriage assembly.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 

1. An apparatus for straightening an elongated article about all of the lateral axes thereof, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality of radially aligned pairs of pulleys journaled on said frame; a plurality of flexible belts each being trained about one of said pairs of pulleys, the outer surfaces of said belts along one run thereof defining a plane, said belts being substantially parallel along said one run and being adapted to transport said article therealong; means associated with said frame for rotatable driving said pulleys to thereby drive said belts; and a pressure bar connected to said frame and extending substantially parallel to said belts along said one run, said bar having an edge thereof disposed adjacent said plane for confining said article between the bar and belts while the article is transported along said one run, one portion of said edge being spaced from said plane a distance less than the transverse cross-sectional thickness of said article and another portion of said edge being spaced from said plane a distance greater than said thickness so that when the article is transported along said one run from said one to said other portion of said edge, the article is rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof and is continuously and progressively bent about the lateral axes thereof by progressively decreasing amounts, to thereby straighten the article about said lateral axes.
 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising two of said flexible belts.
 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said belts are made from a material from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyisocyanate.
 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said driving means are operative to drive said belts at different linear velocities along said one run for transporting a longitudinally tapered article to be straightened.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for automatically sequentially placing a plurality of saiD articles on said belts adjacent said one portion of said edge.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bar is connected to said frame by adjustable means so that the separation of said edge from said plane may be adjusted.
 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plane is substantially horizontal. 